Expert Profile

Ms. Carolyn Appleton

Contact

Austin, TX
United States

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Expert Bio

I am a nonprofit fundraising and digital communications specialist with 40 years of hands on experience across Texas and beyond. My mission is to help organizations, communities, donors and volunteers attain their fundraising, communications and public relations goals in the most efficient, thoughtful, high-quality manner possible.

I was elected to The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi in 1985, the year I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with an M.A. in American 19th century art history. Although I was encouraged to continue my studies and secure a Ph.D., I chose to work in the nonprofit sector.

In 2011, I launched Carolyn's Nonprofit Blog. It shares experiences and advice based upon a lifetime working in the trenches of nonprofit fundraising and communications. More than 200 nations have visited its pages since then. I am the sole author, designer and manager.

I was elected to membership in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in 2010, and I have 6 proven American Revolutionary War ancestors as of 2025, one of whom was responsible for the success of the Crossing of the Delaware. I am a member of the Austin Colony Chapter of NSDAR, and I am active on Ancestry.com. You can find my work on that platform here: "Appleton, Ten Eyck and Booker Family Trees."


I volunteer for such organizations as Citizens' Climate Lobby (Austin chapter: see my website Voices of Austin voicesofaustin.online and my Bluesky feed @cclatx); ONE Campaign (since 2012, inspired by the late Michael Gerson); TechSoup (I ran the Austin tech club 2016-2021); and I have been a Yelp Elite (business champion) for a decade.

The Media Room on Carolyn's Nonprofit Blog provides a variety of in-person and online presentations, and authorships. See ISSUU for my bio and other documents. Questions? The secure contact form on my blog reaches me quickly. Thank you!

Audience Type

  • Association
  • Chapter Initiations
  • College/University Faculty
  • College/University Students
  • Corporation
  • Non-Profit

Professional Status

  • Experienced Professional

Topic Categories

Friendly URL

Location Availability
Locations - travel expense reimbursement not required
Webinar / Online
Locations - travel expense reimbursement required
United StatesAll
Speaker Fee Yes
Amount:
2,500.00 (USD)
Fee Details:
Please ask! My fee varies on the hosting organization.

Presentations

Description Presented Before?
YouTube for Nonprofits  (1)  
I gave this presentation to members of Quad, the TechSoup online conversation platform for nonprofit staff of all levels of experience.
Yes
August 2025 webinar on the Quad conversation platform of TechSoup.
Wiley Online Library: Virtual Tours  (1)  
I was interviewed by Wiley and the result is this article, dating from November 2024.
Yes
Interview over the phone, summer 2024, translated into an article.
These High Plains  (1)  
This presentation was given to the Molly Goodnight Chapter of NSDAR in April 2025, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. My great grand aunt was the founding regent of the Chapter.
Yes
Molly Goodnight Chapter, NSDAR, Amarillo, Texas (in person).
How Technology Is Preserving a WPA Era Icon 
This presentation provides information for improving and enhancing nonprofit infrastructure with an eye toward major gift fundraising.
Yes
Texas Historical Commission February 1, 2023
Technologies for Effective Capital Campaigns 
Given as a webinar for Crescendo Interactive, this presentation focuses on major gift fundraising, the necessary mindset, research tools, and more.
Yes
Webinar, April 4, 2023
Technology and Data to Lay the Groundwork for Effective Major Gift Fundraising  (1)  
This presentation was given to the Crescendo Interactive Practical Planned Giving Conference in 2022.
Yes
San Diego, California, September 20, 2022
Grant Writing, Major Gift Fundraising, Asking for Major Gifts, Capital Campaign Preparation, Social Media, Stewardship, Startup Infrastructure, Troubleshooting, Technology Solutions  (1)  
See the Media Room on Carolyn's Nonprofit Blog (carolynmappleton.com/media-room). Each presentation is tailored to the audience. In-person and online presentations are possible.
Yes
ADRP: Association of Donor Relations Professionals; AFP: Association of Fundraising Professionals (DFW, Coastal Bend, Permian Basin); Crescendo Interactive; Friends of the Texas Historical Commission; GPA: Grant Professionals Association; NTEN: Nonprofit Technology Network; Qgiv; Rotary International (local chapters); Sam Houston State University; TechSoup; Texas Grant Resource Center at The University of Texas at Austin; and University of the Incarnate Word.